The Requiem Mass for Major (R ) Joseph PG Sharaf of 16th was held yesterday at St Mary’s Church, Gulberg Lahore. The Mass was offered by His Grace the Archbishop of Lahore Sebastian Shaw and His Excellency Bishop Joseph Arshad of Faisalabad, who were joined by Vice Provincial of Capuchin Friars Fr. Nadeem, Parish Priest St Mary’s Fr Patrick Samuel, Parish Priest St Joseph’s Fr. Qaiser Feroz, Fr. Inayat Bernard, Fr Victor, Fr James Chanan, Sisters at convent of Jesus & Mary and Dean of the Cathedral of Resurrection Rev. Shahid Meraj.

Major Joseph Sharaf was especially given honours by the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, DG Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), COMD 4 CORPS, STA COMD, CO and All Ranks 2 FD REGT ARTILLARY, and his Course Mates 38 PMA.

His Memorial Mass will be held tomorrow on Thursday 30th November at 12:20 in St Mary’s Church, Gulberg Lahore.

ABOUT THE LIFE OF MAJOR JOSEPH PG SHARAF Major Joseph PG Sharaf was born on 30 May 1947 and graduated from St Anthony’s High School. During his senior Cambridge years he was the head boy from 1963-1964. He received early education from Presentation Covent Wah and St Gregory High School in Dhaka during his father’s posting in Bangladesh.

He joined Pakistan Army, 38 PMA Long Course in April 1966. As a young officer, he fought the war of 1971 at Ganda Singh Border, Hussainwala Front.

Just two months before the war broke out, he married his wife Mrs Veronica Sharaf, who hails from Sargodha. In 1972, the year his eldest child Margaret Mary was born, he fought the Guerilla Insurgency.

During the course of time, he served in 35 Baluch, 32 Balauch, 16 Balauch, and 32 FF. During the regime of Gen Zia, he was the President of the summary Military Court, which makes him the only Military Christian Judge so far.

His last appointment was as an Officer Commanding Defense Company at Head Quarter 4 CORPS. He was known as the officer who ‘fought the battle without a steel helmet and a mug of tea in his hand.’ His ideas which materialized through different organizations and departments were groundbreaking technology for the world.

He was a man of principles to this extent that as per records, during his tenure as a Military Judge, he refused 4 Crore Rupees per Lash, whereas, the total pardon was for 14 lashes.

Major Joseph PG Sharaf also served as the first Pakistani principal of St Joseph High School Gujranwala, and Rector of The International University (ITU) that was the first MBA University of its kind.